VERBS Flashcards
Shirk
to avoid doing something you should do, especially because you are too lazy
Discipline in the company was strict and no one shirked.
shirk from something/doing something
A determined burglar will not shirk from breaking a window to gain entry.
shirk something/doing something
She never shirked her responsibilities.
The word “shirk” is a verb that means to avoid or neglect one’s duties or responsibilities. Here are some examples of the word in use:
The employee was accused of shirking his responsibilities by frequently taking long breaks and not completing his assignments on time.
She felt guilty for shirking her responsibilities as a parent by not attending her child’s school events.
The politician was criticized for shirking his duties by skipping important meetings and not addressing the issues affecting his constituents.
Some students try to shirk their academic responsibilities by copying someone else’s work or skipping classes.
Hinder
To make it difficult for somebody to do something or for something to happen
SYNONYM hamper
hinder somebody/something
a political situation that hinders economic growth
Some teachers felt hindered by a lack of resources.
hinder somebody/something from something/from doing something
An injury was hindering him from playing his best.
Dread
to be very afraid of something; to fear that something bad is going to happen
dread something
This was the moment he had been dreading.
dread doing something
I dread being sick.
dread somebody doing something
She dreads her husband finding out.
dread to do something
I dread to think what would happen if there really was a fire here.
dread that
I both hoped and dreaded that he would come.
Cherish
cherish somebody/something to love somebody/something very much and want to protect them or it
Children need to be cherished.
her most cherished possession
Thrive
to become, and continue to be, successful, strong, healthy, etc.
SYNONYM flourish
New businesses thrive in this area.
These animals rarely thrive in captivity.
Crave
to have a very strong desire for something
SYNONYM long for
crave (for) something
She has always craved excitement.
to crave alcohol/drugs/sweet food/carbohydrates/cigarettes/coffee
crave to do something
They craved to return to their homeland.
After a long day at work, I crave a hot cup of tea and a good book to relax.
She couldn’t resist the temptation and craved another slice of cake.
He always craved adventure and excitement, which is why he became a travel writer.
The athlete craved victory and trained tirelessly to achieve his goals.
Many people crave the taste of salty or sugary snacks, even though they are not good for their health.
She craved the feeling of accomplishment that came from completing a challenging task.
The patient on a strict diet often craved fast food and unhealthy snacks, making it difficult to stick to the plan.
Jeopardize
jeopardize something/somebody to risk harming or destroying something/somebody
SYNONYM endanger
He would never do anything to jeopardize his career.
This scandal could seriously jeopardize his chances of being re-elected.
Tackle
[transitive] tackle something to make a determined effort to deal with a difficult problem or situation
The government is determined to tackle inflation.
I think I’ll tackle the repairs next weekend.
Firefighters tackled a blaze in a garage last night.
Hasten
[intransitive] hasten to do something to say or do something without delay
She saw his frown and hastened to explain.
He has been described as a ‘charmless bore’—not by me, I hasten to add.
I hasten to add that I knew nothing of the fraud at the time.
[transitive] hasten something (formal) to make something happen sooner or more quickly
The treatment she received may, in fact, have hastened her death.
News of the scandal certainly hastened his departure from office.
Embrace
[uncountable] the act of accepting an idea, a proposal, a set of beliefs, etc, especially when it is done with enthusiasm
the country’s eager embrace of modern technology
Comprise
o have somebody/something as parts or members
SYNONYM consist of
comprise something
The collection comprises 327 paintings.
a DVD box set comprising seasons 4 and 5
be comprised of somebody/something
The committee is comprised of representatives from both the public and private sectors.
Impose upon
impose something on/upon somebody/something
This system imposes additional financial burdens on many people.
to make somebody accept the same opinions, wishes, etc. as your own
She didn’t want to impose her values on her family.
It was noticeable how a few people managed to impose their will on the others.
Endow with
endowed with
If someone or something is endowed with a particular quality or feature, the person or thing naturally has that quality or feature:
People think Jefferson was endowed with great wisdom.
The scholarship fund was established to endow students with financial support to pursue their academic goals.
The wealthy philanthropist chose to endow the museum with a collection of priceless artworks.
The new software was designed to endow users with the ability to automate repetitive tasks and increase productivity.
The coach’s leadership style was known to endow his team with a sense of confidence and motivation.
The new educational program aimed to endow students with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The company’s culture was built to endow employees with a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their work.
Top off
to be on the upper surface of something, especially as a decoration:
The dessert was topped off with whipped cream and pieces of fruit.
- They topped off the performance with a song.
- He topped off his career with an Olympic gold medal.
- He topped off the hedge.
Spate
a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant ones, happening at about the same time:
Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the Kingsland Road area.
There has been a spate of burglaries in the neighborhood recently.
A spate of bad weather has caused flooding in the area.
The company has announced a spate of new product releases.
The actor was overwhelmed by a spate of negative reviews for his latest film.
A spate of injuries to key players has left the team struggling to compete.
relish
to like or enjoy something:
I always relish a challenge.
[ + -ing verb ] I don’t relish telling her that her son has been arrested.
As a verb, “relish” means to enjoy or take pleasure in something. For example, “I relish spending time with my family on the weekends.” Here are some additional examples:
She relished the opportunity to travel to a new country and experience a new culture.
The chef relished the chance to experiment with new flavors and ingredients in her dishes.
He relished the feeling of accomplishment that came with completing a difficult task.
The children relished the chance to play outside on a sunny day.
She relished the challenge of solving a complex problem at work.
Waft
to (cause to) move gently through the air:
A gentle breeze wafted the scent of roses in through the open window.
The sound of a flute wafted down the stairs.
The smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, making my stomach growl.
As I lay on the beach, I felt a gentle waft of cool air as the sea breeze picked up.
The curtains billowed gently in the waft of the warm summer air.
The aroma of coffee wafted up from the mug, making me feel instantly more awake.
entice (with, into, away)
to persuade someone to do something by offering them something pleasant:
The adverts entice the customer into buying things they don’t really want.
People are being enticed away from the profession by higher salaries elsewhere.
[ + to infinitive ] A smell of coffee in the doorway enticed people to enter the shop.
The restaurant enticed customers with its mouth-watering menu and free dessert promotion.
The recruiter enticed the job candidate with a generous salary package and opportunities for growth.
The company enticed new subscribers with a free trial period and exclusive content.
The advertisement was designed to entice viewers to buy the product by highlighting its unique features and benefits.
The store used a colorful display and catchy music to entice shoppers to come inside and browse the products.
coalesce
If two or more things coalesce, they come or grow together to form one thing or system.
The theory is that galaxies coalesced from smaller groupings of stars.
The clouds gradually coalesced into a massive thunderstorm that brought heavy rain and lightning.
The various departments in the company coalesced into a single team to work on the new project.
The artist used a variety of colors to create a painting that coalesced into a beautiful and harmonious whole.
The different voices and perspectives of the participants in the meeting gradually coalesced into a shared vision for the future.
The function in the programming language coalesces multiple inputs into a single output by returning the first non-null value.
Over time, the small particles in the liquid began to coalesce and form larger droplets that could be seen with the naked eye.
inconvenience
to cause problems or difficulties for someone:
The strike inconvenienced many people.
instigate
to cause an event or situation to happen by making a set of actions or a formal process begin:
The government will instigate new measures to combat terrorism.
The revolt in the north is believed to have been instigated by a high-ranking general.
Mount
to gradually increase, rise, or get bigger:
The children’s excitement is mounting as Christmas gets nearer.
to get on a horse, bicycle, etc.. in order to ride:
to organize and begin an activity or event:
to mount an attack/campaign/challenge/protest
to mount an exhibition/display
She mounted her horse and rode off.
to fix something to a wall, in a frame, etc., so that it can be looked at or used:
The children’s work has been mounted on coloured paper and put up on the walls of the classroom.
The surveillance camera is mounted above the main door.
conform to
to obey a rule or reach the necessary stated standard:
conform to sth
70% of these imports come from pigs raised under conditions that would not conform to UK minimum standards.
conform with sth
The Food and Drug Administration approved an 18-month extension of the patent on the drug to conform with new international trade agreements.
The dress code requires all employees to conform to a business casual attire.
The new employee had to conform to the company’s policies and procedures.
The product must conform to safety standards before it can be released to the market.
The artist chose to conform to the traditional style of painting in order to appeal to a wider audience.
The committee’s decision had to conform to the bylaws of the organization.
In order to be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant’s qualifications must conform to the criteria set by the selection committee
deter
to prevent someone from doing something or to make someone less enthusiastic about doing something by making it difficult for that person to do it or by threatening bad results if they do it:
These measures are designed to deter an enemy attack.
High prices are deterring many young people from buying houses
The increased presence of police officers in the area is expected to deter criminal activity.
The high cost of cigarettes is meant to deter people from smoking.
The threat of being caught and punished should deter people from committing crimes.
The fence around the property is designed to deter trespassers.
The warning signs on the highway are intended to deter speeding.
The security guard at the entrance of the building is there to deter unauthorized access.
The harsh penalties for cheating are meant to deter students from engaging in academic dishonesty.
long for
long for something; long to do something
to want something very much:
She longed to see him again.
I’m longing for news of him.
Sarah longed for the day when she could finally travel the world and see all the amazing sights she had read about.
Tom had always longed for a career in music, but his parents had pushed him to pursue a more traditional profession.
After years of hard work, Amanda finally achieved the promotion she had longed for and felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Emily longed for the peacefulness of her childhood home, where she could relax and escape from the stresses of her daily life.
Despite his successful career and busy lifestyle, Mark couldn’t help but long for the simplicity and carefree days of his youth
acquiesce to
to accept or agree to something, often unwillingly:
Reluctantly, he acquiesced to/in the plans.
After much negotiation, the company reluctantly acquiesced to the union’s demands.
The principal was unwilling to acquiesce to the student’s demands for a new gymnasium.
The diplomat was forced to acquiesce to the demands of the opposing country in order to avoid a war.
The government eventually acquiesced to public pressure and withdrew the controversial policy.
The team captain had to acquiesce to the coach’s decision, even though he didn’t agree with it.
err
to make a mistake or to do something wrong:
He erred in agreeing to her appointment to the position.
I’m sorry, I made an err in my calculations and the numbers are not correct.”
“She was upset when she realized she had made an err in her presentation and had to start over.”
“The printer made an err and the pages came out blank.”
“He had to call the customer back and apologize for the err in the order.”
“The website had an err and was down for several hours.”
Alter
to become different; to make somebody/something different
Prices did not alter significantly during 2019.
He had altered so much I scarcely recognized him.
alter somebody/something
His actions that day altered my perception of him.
The landscape has been radically altered by changes in the climate.
Grapple with
to take a strong hold of somebody/something and struggle with them
grapple (with somebody/something) Passers-by grappled with the man after the attack.
to try hard to find a solution to a problem
grapple with something
The new government has yet to grapple with the problem of air pollution.
a government trying to grapple with inflation
The wrestler tried to grapple his opponent to the ground.
She had to grapple with her fear of heights to complete the rock climbing course.
The company had to grapple with the challenges of remote work during the pandemic.
The team had to grapple with the complex problem for weeks before finding a solution.
He grappled with the decision of whether or not to take the job offer.
The politician had to grapple with a controversial issue during his campaign.
Sneer
to show that you have no respect for somebody by the expression on your face or by the way you speak
SYNONYM mock
sneer (at somebody/something) He sneered at people who liked pop music.
a sneering comment
She gave a sneering laugh.
The bully would often sneer at the other students, making them feel intimidated and insecure.
The rude customer gave a sneer to the waitress when she asked him to repeat his order.
The politician would sneer at his opponents during debates, hoping to discredit their arguments.
The popular girl would often sneer at the less popular students, making them feel inferior.
The boss gave a sneer to the employee who had made a mistake during the presentation.
Slouch
to stand, sit or move in a lazy way, often with your shoulders and head bent forward
Several students were slouching against the wall.
Sit up straight. Don’t slouch.
Stammer
to speak with difficulty, repeating sounds or words and often stopping, before saying things correctly
SYNONYM stutter
Many children stammer but grow out of it.
fidget
to keep moving your body, your hands or your feet because you are nervous, bored, excited, etc.
Sit still and stop fidgeting!
During the long meeting, John couldn’t stop fidgeting in his chair.”
“I always have to fidget with my hair when I’m nervous.”
“Children with ADHD often exhibit fidgeting behavior.”
“The stress ball on my desk helps me avoid fidgeting during conference
rankle
if something such as an event or a remark rankles, it makes you feel angry or upset for a long time
rankle (somebody)
Her comments still rankled.
rankle with somebody
His decision to sell the land still rankled with her.
Contrive
contrive to do something
to manage to do something despite difficulties
She contrived to spend a couple of hours with him every Sunday evening.
Somehow they contrived to live on her tiny income.
He managed to contrive a way to escape from the prison using a hidden tunnel.
The company had to contrive a new marketing strategy to compete with its rivals.
She contrived a plan to surprise her friends on their birthday by throwing them a surprise party.
The chef was able to contrive a new dish using unexpected ingredients, which became an instant hit.
scrutinize
scrutinize somebody/something to look at or examine somebody/something carefully
She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.
The statement was carefully scrutinized before publication.
he auditors will scrutinize the company’s financial records to ensure they are accurate and compliant with regulations.
The police will scrutinize the evidence to determine who committed the crime.
The hiring manager will scrutinize the candidate’s resume and cover letter to determine if they are a good fit for the job.
The committee will scrutinize the proposed budget to ensure that all expenses are justified.
The journalist will scrutinize the facts and sources before publishing the article.
clench
when you clench your hands, teeth, etc., or when they clench, you press them together tightly, usually showing that you are angry, determined or upset
clench (something) He clenched his fists in anger.
Through clenched teeth she told him to leave.
His fists clenched slowly until his knuckles were white.
Bob
to move or make something move quickly up and down, especially in water
a plastic bottle bobbing along in the current
bob up and down
Tiny boats bobbed up and down in the harbour.
bob something (up and down)
She bobbed her head nervously.
wrench
to pull or twist something/somebody/yourself suddenly and violently
I need to use a wrench to tighten this bolt.
The mechanic used a wrench to remove the old spark plugs from the engine.
She accidentally dropped her phone and felt a wrenching sensation as it smashed on the ground.
The news of the accident caused a wrench in my plans for the day.
He felt a wrench in his stomach when he heard the news of his friend’s illness.
The athlete suffered a wrench in her ankle during the race and had to withdraw.
The thief used a wrench to break open the lock on the safe.
He had to apply a lot of force with the wrench to loosen the rusted nut.
She felt a wrench in her heart when she realized that she had lost her wedding ring.
The sailor used a wrench to repair the damaged parts of the boat.
In this sentence, “wrench” refers to a tool used for gripping and turning bolts, nuts, and other objects.
Here, “wrench” is used as a verb to describe the action of using a wrench to remove the old spark plugs.
“Wrenching” in this sentence means a sudden, sharp, and painful feeling, as if something has been pulled or twisted.
“Wrench” in this sentence refers to a sudden and unexpected change or disruption.
In this sentence, “wrench” is used to describe a sudden and intense feeling of emotional pain or distress.
“Wrench” in this sentence means a sudden and painful twisting or spraining of a body part, in this case, the ankle.
“Wrench” here means to forcibly twist or pull something using a tool such as a wrench.
In this sentence, “wrench” refers to the force required to loosen a nut that has become rusted or stuck.
“Wrench” in this sentence describes an emotional feeling of sudden loss or grief.
“Wrench” in this sentence means to repair or fix something using a tool such as a wrench.
Fiddle
to keep touching or moving something with your hands, especially because you are bored or nervous
He was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me.
Music: “He picked up his fiddle and started playing a lively tune.”
Manipulating or adjusting something in a small way: “She was fiddling with the settings on her phone to get the screen to display properly.”
Cheating or tampering with something: “The accountant was caught fiddling with the company’s books to cover up his embezzlement.”
Wasting time or being unproductive: “Stop fiddling around and get back to work!”
An informal or colloquial way of referring to a violin: “My grandpa used to play the fiddle at square dances.”
Brim with
to be full of something; to fill something
Tears brimmed in her eyes.
brim with something
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
The team were brimming with confidence before the game.
Compounded
compound something
to make something bad become even worse by causing further damage or problems
The problems were compounded by severe food shortages.
The Chancellor compounded the situation by ruling out an early cut in interest rates.
The effects of the pandemic were compounded by the economic downturn, resulting in widespread job losses.
The athlete’s injury was compounded by his decision to continue playing, leading to a more serious condition.
The company’s financial troubles were compounded by a series of bad business decisions made by its leadership.
The environmental damage caused by the oil spill was compounded by the company’s slow response to the crisis.
The teacher’s frustration was compounded by the students’ lack of interest and participation in class.
Blurred
not clear; without a clear outline or shape
She suffered from dizziness and blurred vision.
a blurred image/picture
Roam
to move about or travel, especially without a clear idea of what you are going to do:
After the bars close, gangs of youths roam the city streets.
She roamed around America for a year, working in bars and restaurants.
sweep
to clean something, especially a floor by using a brush to collect the dirt into one place from which it can be removed:
sweep the floor
to remove and/or take in a particular direction, especially in a fast and powerful way:
A large wave swept away half the sandcastle.
She swept the pile of papers and books into her bag.
The boat was swept out to sea (= away from land) by the tide.
I need to sweep the floor before the guests arrive.” (meaning to clean the floor using a broom or vacuum)
“The storm caused a power outage that swept across the city.” (meaning to move rapidly or widely, in this case referring to the power outage affecting many areas)
“She felt a wave of emotion sweep over her as she watched the sunset.” (meaning to feel or experience something intensely)
“The company launched a marketing campaign to sweep the competition.” (meaning to surpass or dominate)
“He made a sweeping gesture with his arm, indicating the grandeur of the landscape before them.” (meaning to make a broad or wide movement, often to emphasize something)
pinpoint
to find out or say the exact position in space or time of something:
It is not possible to pinpoint precisely the time of death.
C2
to discover or describe the exact facts about something:
Emergency workers at the site are still unable to pinpoint the cause of the explosion.
The detective used his keen observation skills to pinpoint the exact location where the crime had taken place.
The scientist conducted a series of experiments to pinpoint the cause of the mysterious disease outbreak.
The coach analyzed the player’s performance to pinpoint the areas where improvement was needed.
The meteorologist was able to pinpoint the path of the hurricane and issue accurate warnings to the affected areas.
The therapist worked with the client to pinpoint the root cause of their anxiety and develop effective coping strategies.
Slump
(of prices, values, or sales) to fall suddenly:
The value of property has slumped.
Car sales have slumped dramatically over the past year.
After a strong start to the season, the team went through a slump and lost several games in a row.
The economy is currently in a slump, with many businesses struggling to stay afloat.
He fell into a slump after his girlfriend broke up with him, and had trouble finding the motivation to do anything.
The real estate market experienced a slump as housing prices fell and demand dropped.
To be “in a slump” means to be experiencing a period of low or poor performance, productivity, or motivation, often in a specific area such as work, sports, or creativity. During a slump, a person may feel stuck, discouraged, or unproductive, and may struggle to perform at their usual level.
Withstand
to be strong enough, or not be changed by something, or to oppose a person or thing successfully:
a bridge designed to withstand earthquakes
Our toys are designed to withstand the rough treatment of the average five-year-old.
The aircraft base is protected with specially designed shelters which are built to withstand ground and air attacks.
Theatre duly withstood not only the newspaper, but also cinema and then television.
babble
to talk or say something in a quick, confused, excited, or silly way:
The children babbled excitedly among themselves.
She was babbling something about her ring being stolen.
Pry (disapproving)
to try to find out private facts about a person:
As a reporter, I was paid to pry into other people’s lives.
I hope you don’t think I’m prying, but has your boyfriend ever lived with anyone before?
She wanted a private holiday away from prying eyes (= where no one would be trying to see her).
The journalist was determined to pry information out of the reluctant source.”
Vie
to compete with other people to achieve or get something:
Six candidates are currently vying for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The two older children tend to vie with the younger one for their mother’s attention.
[ + to infinitive ] The two groups of scientists are vying to get funding for their research projects.
The two candidates vied for the position of CEO in the upcoming board meeting.
The two companies have been vying for market dominance in the tech industry for years.
The athletes vied for the gold medal in a highly competitive race at the Olympics.
The siblings vied for their parents’ attention by competing in various activities and chores around the house.
The singers vied for the top spot on the music charts with their latest album releases.
Recount
As a verb meaning to tell someone about something that happened:
She recounted the story of how she lost her keys.
He recounted his experiences living abroad for a year.
The witness recounted what they saw on the night of the crime.
As a noun meaning a detailed account of something that happened:
The article provided a fascinating recount of the history of the town.
The book included a detailed recount of the author’s journey through Africa.
The museum exhibit included a recount of the events leading up to the Civil War.
As a noun meaning a process of counting votes in an election:
The recount showed that the candidate had actually won by a narrow margin.
The losing candidate requested a recount after the results were announced.
The election commission oversaw the recount to ensure accuracy
Litter
to spread across an area or place untidily:
The park was littered with bottles and cans after the concert.
Dirty clothes littered the floor of her bedroom
The whole park is spoiled by litter.
- The streets were full of litter.
- Please do not leave litter after your picnic.
- Please do not leave litter.
- About 2% of fast-food packaging ends up as litter.
- It is antisocial to leave one’s litter in public places..
disabuse of
to cause someone no longer to have a wrong idea:
He thought that all women liked children, but she soon disabused him of that (idea/notion).
I had to disabuse my friend of the notion that all politicians are corrupt.
The teacher disabused the student of the idea that the earth is flat.
The doctor disabused the patient of the mistaken belief that their illness could be cured with home remedies.
I had to disabuse myself of the notion that I could lose weight without exercising.
cite
to mention something as proof for a theory or as a reason why something has happened:
She cited three reasons why people get into debt.
The company cited a 13 percent decline in new orders as evidence that overall demand for its products was falling.
incorporate
to include something as part of something larger:
Suggestions from the survey have been incorporated into/in the final design.
This aircraft incorporates several new safety features.
denigrate
to say that someone or something is not good or important:
You shouldn’t denigrate people just because they have different beliefs from you.
Research into
to study a subject in detail, especially in order to discover new information or reach a new understanding:
She’s researching into possible cures for AIDS.
There has been a lot of research into the benefits of meditation for mental health.
Many scientists are currently conducting research into the effects of climate change on marine life.
The government is funding research into renewable energy sources to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
Researchers are conducting extensive research into the genetics of cancer to develop better treatments.
Downplay
to make something seem less important or less bad than it really is:
The government has been trying to downplay the crisis.
The politician tried to downplay the significance of the scandal, but the public was not convinced.
The company’s spokesperson attempted to downplay the negative impact of the data breach, but customers were still concerned.
The athlete downplayed her achievements, saying that it was a team effort and she couldn’t have done it without her teammates.
The professor tried to downplay the difficulty of the exam, but the students were still anxious.
Emerge
to start to exist; to appear or become known
After the elections opposition groups began to emerge.
emerge as something
He emerged as a key figure in the campaign
The University of Colorado emerged as the overall winner.
Occur
(especially of accidents and other unexpected events) to happen:
An accident involving over ten vehicles has occurred in the east-bound lane.
If any of these symptoms occur while you are taking the medication, consult your doctor immediately.
to exist or be present in, among, etc.:
Violence of some type seems to occur in every society.
Minerals occur naturally in the earth’s crust.
Arouse
to cause someone to have a particular feeling:
It’s a subject that has aroused a lot of interest.
Our suspicions were first aroused when we heard a muffled scream.
The loud noise outside aroused the sleeping dog.
The beautiful scenery on the hike aroused a sense of wonder and awe in me.
The movie’s intense plot and romantic scenes aroused strong emotions in the audience.
The political scandal aroused the anger and frustration of the citizens.
The spicy aroma of the cooking food aroused my appetite.
The touching speech by the charity founder aroused the empathy of the crowd.
The provocative clothing of the model aroused controversy among the audience.
The stimulating massage aroused a feeling of relaxation and comfort.
The passionate kiss from his partner aroused his desire for intimacy.
The suspenseful thriller aroused a sense of fear and anticipation in the viewers.
